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CDR Samuel David Dealey
Commanding Officer, USS HARDER
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of this life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer
of the USS HARDER during her Fifth War Patrol in Japanese-controlled waters. Floodlighted by a bright moon and disclosed to an enemy
destroyer escort which bore down with intent to attack, Commander Dealey
quickly dived to periscope depth and waited for the pursuer to close range,
then opened fire, sending the target and all aboard down in flames with
his third torpedo. Plunging deep to avoid fierce depth charges, he again
surfaced and, within nine minutes after sighting another destroyer, had
sent the enemy down tail first with a hit directly amid ship. Evading
detection, he penetrated the confined waters off Tawi Tawi with the Japanese
destroyers in quick succession. With his ship heeled over by concussion
from the first exploding target and the second vessel nose-diving in a
blinding detonation, he cleared the area at high speed. Sighted by a large
hostile Fleet force on the following day, he swung his bow toward the
lead destroyer crash-dived to be terrifically rocked seconds later by
the exploding ship as the HARDER passed beneath. This remarkable record
of five vital Japanese destroyers sunk in five short-range torpedo attacks
attests the valiant fighting spirit of Commander Dealey and his indomitable
command."
Undersea Warfare Magazine "Historical Reflection" article.